Bonita chicken program not taking off

After a lot of chatter, a controversial measure allowing people to own chickens in residential neighborhoods in Bonita Springs isn't taking off.

Chickens continue to roam some neighborhoods in Bonita Springs. But since November, not all the birds are illegal.

A new pilot program allows residential homeowners to have four hens. The ordinance allows for up to 25 permits; so far only eight have applied.

"Bonita Springs is 65-percent gated communities, so when you look at that over all then it does make sense that we may have a smaller percentage of people applying for permits," says Jennifer Hagen, who spearheaded the program for Bonita Springs Community Development.

The birds aren't allowed in gated communities without homeowners association and the city's approval.

"I'm looking to make sure the hens, or the ladies as I like to call them, are safe, they are taken care of, it's clean, it's protected and it's screened in some way or fashion," says Hagen.

Some of the things they're checking for when they come out are making sure the hens have proper shade and food and water sources.

"One of the things that has come out of it that so was not anticipating is the response I've been getting from other municipalities," says Hagen.

One of those is a Lee County commissioner.

"Hopefully they will revisit that and look at also piloting a program hats similar in Lee County," says Hagen.

Since the ordinance was passed, the city of Bonita Springs hasn't received any complaints.

"There's a lot of confusion at first, there's a lot of education for the public, once the program gets up and running we usually don't hear anything," says Hagen.